It's not too late for Valentine's Day flowers, but it will cost you

February 12, 2018

Online resellers charge way more than local markets.
LOS ANGELES — Procrastinators, if you haven’t gotten around to buying your loved a dozen red roses yet for Valentine’s Day, it’s not too late. But if you’re planning on sending them, you better ask quickly.Wednesday, ICYMI, is right around the corner.You can still order online, although you will pay handsomely for the service. Top floral retailer 1-800-Flowers, for instance, charges more than four times the cost of the local supermarket to have them shipped and delivered.A quick check of online vs. retail pricing for a dozen roses:The company is offering two-dozen roses for $49.99, plus $18 in surcharges and shipping, for $68, but it could be sold out by Tuesday. Other Valentine’s choices include long-stemmed roses for $64.99, plus $18 in shipping and handling, for $83. The company says it can ship orders on Valentine’s Day all the way up to noon Wednesday.The San Francisco-based start-up, which was recently acquired by longtime floral delivery service FTD, charges a hefty $75 for 12 roses, with $12.99 for shipping, bringing it to $88 total. Cut-off time for Wednesday deliveries is 3 p.m. local time.The online florist, which promises farm-to-table delivery of flowers, charges a flat rate $60 for a dozen roses, with no shipping charges. Orders need to be made by Tuesday 11 a.m. PT for Wednesday delivery.The e-tailer, which of course sells everything, has good deals for roses, with free shipping if you’re a member of the Prime expedited shipping service. Amazon has 12 roses for $44.35, with guaranteed, free shipping for Valentine’s Day, via the KaBloom company. Orders need to be placed by noon Tuesday.Finally, you can’t beat the local supermarket for Valentine’s flowers. A local Los Angeles food chain, Ralphs, has a dozen roses for $19.99. Whole Foods, which is now owned by Amazon, is offering two dozen roses in-store for $24.99, or if you’re a Prime member, $19.99. To get the discount you’ll need to download the coupon from wholefoods.com before picking them up.